Saatchi & Saatchi Appointed To Promote Turkey Matc

The Australian Soccer Association (ASA) has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi to promote the upcoming international matches between the Socceroos and Turkey.

The Australian Soccer Association (ASA) has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi to promote the upcoming international matches between the Socceroos and Turkey. Played over two legs at Aussie Stadium in Sydney on Friday May 21 and the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Monday May 24, the games represent the first opportunity for Australians to see the Socceroos live on home soil in more than two and a half years.

Turkey are currently ranked ninth in the world having finished third in the last FIFA World Cup and are sure to provide the Socceroos with a tough work-out ahead of the OFC FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (stage 2) in late May and early June in Australia.

Socceroo coach Frank Farina believes we couldn-t have got better opposition to test the Socceroos. “They will be two really great games and important preparation for the start of our qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006. Our players are really looking forward to the games, as not only are they playing against one of the top teams in the world, but we are playing at home for the first time in several years. I hope that when the players take to the field against Turkey in Sydney and Melbourne, that we have full houses to urge the team to some good performances,” Farina said.

The appointment of Saatchi & Saatchi to promote the Turkey games is another step forward in the ASA-s commitment to improving the overall image of the game in Australia and ensuring the Socceroos- internationals gain the exposure they deserve.

Saatchi & Saatchi-s Mark Green added, “We are delighted to be working with the new administration at the ASA on this project. This is an era of change and re-invigoration for Australian soccer and we are proud to play a part. Soccer in Australia has a lot going for it including the highest participation rate of all team sports and an incredibly strong squad of senior players in the Socceroos.”

John O-Neill, CEO of ASA added, “The appointment of Saatchi & Saatchi for the two games reflects our intention to further professionalise the promotion of Socceroo internationals and will no doubt assist us in drawing great crowds for what promises to be very exciting fixtures, and provide additional value for our key sponsors such as Avaya, Nike and the Australian Sports Commission.”